Russia Refuses To Allow Selena Gomez Into The Country Because She Might Speak In Favor Of Gay Rights

Gomez failed to secure a Russian visa after the government tightened the visa regime for foreign musicians in response toMadonna's and Lady Gaga'sdecisions to openly support gays during their shows in Russia last year, the organizers told RIA Novosti...

...The head of the Petersburg Music Industry company, Yevgeny Finkelshtein, said Thursday that he feared the finger-pointing would discourage other performers from visiting the country.

"Not a single person is going to visit us if the Prosecutor General's Office starts disputing something or looking for guilty parties," Finkelshtein said, according to RIA Novosti.

"This shows that the Russian government is on edge, it's nervous, and it's aware of the bruising its reputation has taken in the wake of their anti-gay crackdown," said John Becker, creator of a Change.org petition asking Selena to speak out for Russian LGBT, which has been reported as related to the visa denial. "For the first time since the end of the Yeltsin administration, more Americans have a negative perception of Russia, and it's clear that the country's crackdown on LGBT rights has made a difference here."

"This cancelation of Selena Gomez's visa shows that the Russian government is sensitive and on the defense, and shows that the pressure from people all around the world and the backlash against these laws is strong," Becker continued. "They're afraid to have someone like Selena Gomez come in and potentially use her platform to advance LGBT rights."

Selena has had to cancel two scheduled concerts in Russia over the drama.